Line spacing mechanism for typewriting or like machines



Dec. 27, 1955 D. G. BALFOUR 2,72s;4ss

LINE SPACING MECHANISM FOR TYPEWRITING OR LIKE MACHINES Filed Aug. 11, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 g q INVENTOR flaw/d Bafour BY *MW 4 ATTORNEYS Dec. 27, 1955 D. G. BALFOUR 2,728,438

LINE SPACING MECHANISM FOR TYPEWRITING OR LIKE MACHINES Filed Aug. 11, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR David 6 Bajmu r B BLVMK 1 ATTORNEYS [pelt LINE SPACZNG MECHANISM FUR TYPE- WRITENG GR LIKE MAHINES David G. Balfour, West Hartford, Guam, assignor te- Royal McBee Corporation, a corporation of New York Application August 11, 1953, Serial No. 373,615 11 Claims. (63. l97ii-'t} This invention relates to line spacing mechanism for typewriting or like machines, and more particularly to mechanism of this general class which may be caused to operate repeatedly a selected number of times depending upon the time during which a key or other manipulatable device is held in operated position.

An object of the invention is to provide line spacing mechanism of the character referred to, including a continuously operating cam and a follower adapted to be operated by the cam for effecting a succession of line spacing operations automatically in response to a single operation of a control device, such as a manually manipulatable key.

Another object of the invention is to provide mecha- :nism of the class referred to in which the cam follower element and cam element are normally so relatively offset or positioned that the follower element will not be operated by the cam element, in combination with means for shifting one of the elements so as to cause the follower element to be operated by the cam element.

A further object of the invention is to provide im proved mechanism including means mounted on the stationary frame of a typewriting or like machine for operating line spacing mechanism mounted on the travelling carriage of the machine, irrespective of the position of the carriage relative to the frame.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of mechanism embodying the invention, shown in association with only sufficient known parts of a typewriter construction to facilitate an understanding of the cooperation of the parts embodying the invention with other parts customarily included in typewriter constructions, the parts being shown in their normal or inactive positions;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but with key mechanism being omitted and other parts being shown in their operating positions; and

Figure 3 is a detailed fragmentary perspective view drawn on an enlarged scale and showing a part of a line spacing mechanism actuator and a guide therefor.

The invention is shown as being embodied in a power operated typewriter including a stationary frame part A on which is mounted, for letter spacing and return travel, a carriage part including a supporting rail or track member B. The carriage part may be mounted on the frame part, and may be operated in the letter spacing and return directions generally by mechanism of the kind illustrated in more detail in the patent to Hart No. 2,567,937, dated September 18, 1951.

The carriage part is adapted to be equipped with a sheet feeding platen or cylinder (not shown) which may be of conventional form and which is adapted to be con nected to line spacing mechanism generally designated C. :In accordance with the invention, the line spacing mechanism C is operable by a frame mounted power driven cam mechanism D through interconnecting means E 2,728,438 Patented Dec. 27, 1955 which is operable for transmitting effort to the line spacing mechanism C irrespective of the position of the carriage part on the frame part.

The line spacing mechanism C may be generally of the kind shown in the patent to Hart et al., No. 2,542,868 dated February 20, 1951. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the carriage part includes an end plate 1 equipped with a bearing sleeve 2 which journals a shaft '(not shown) carrying a manually operable knob 3 at its outer end. The inner end of the shaft is equipped with a radially offset finger 4 which extends into an opening 5 in a spider 6 rotatable about the common axis of the shaft and a fractional line spacing control stem or rod 7 which extends through the shaft. The arrangement is such that, when the knob 3 is turned, the finger 4 rotates the spider 6. The spider 6 is equipped with pins, two of which are shown at 8, 8, and which are adapted to extend intothe end of the platen (not shown) for rotating the platen when the spider is turned, thus to effect line spacing movements of the platen.

Also rotatable about the stem 7 and the associated shaft is a ratchet wheel 9 which is fast with a coupling ring shown partially at 10. Normally, the serrated outer end of the fingers 11 on the spider 6 engage the inside face of the coupling ring flange so that the coupling ring 16 and the ratchet wheel 9 fast therewith will be rotated in unison with the spider 6 and the platen. A detent arm 12 pivoted on the carriage at 13 is provided with a roller 14 which normally is pressed against the ratchet wheel '9 by a spring 15 which tends to .rock the detent 12 clockwise. A finger button 16 cooperable with the outer end of the stem or rod 7 is adapted to press the rod 7 inwardly to move the spider 6 toward the right and disengage the ends of the spider fingers 11 from the coupling ring flange 10 so as to enable the platen to be turned fractional line spacing increments while the coupling ring 10 and ratchet wheel 9 are maintained stationary by the detent 12. A line spacing selector shield 17 is adapted to cooperate with a line spacing pawl (not shown) for varying the number of line spacing incremental steps of movement imparted to the platen in response to operation of a carriage returning lever or arm (not shown). The position of the shield 17 may be adjusted by movement of a finger piece or arm 17 on the shield. A ratchet releasing arm 18 is pivoted on the carriage as at 1'9, and has its lower end arranged to cooperate with a pad 20 on the detent lever 12 for releasing the detent roller 14 from engagement with the ratchet wheel 9 to enable the platen to be turned without being restrained by the ratchet mechanism.

The line spacing mechanism thus far referred to is illustrated and described in greater detail in the aforesaid patent to Hart et al. 2,542,868, and its details do not constitute the present invention. For the purposes of the present invention, it may be considered that the ratchet wheel 9 constitutes a line spacing element, movement of which rotates a platen or cylinder, or operates any other suitable sheet feeding mechanism for performing the required line spacing functions.

The illustrated mechanism embodying the present .invention in its preferred form includes a thrust rod or actuator pawl 21 mounted to slide forwardly and rearwardiy in a slot 22 formed in a bracket or guide '23 fixed to and depending from a cross bar 24 forming part of the carriage frame structure. The slot 22 is elongated vertically so as to enable the pawl 21 to move vertically as well as substantially horizontally with respect to the guide 23. The pawl 21 has a pointed front end or nose 25 which normally is retracted or disengaged from the ratchet wheel 9 and is held in relatively raised position by a spring 26 connected at its lower end to the pawl 21 and connected at its upper endto a fixed part of the carriage. The rear end of the pawl 21 is pivoted at 28 to the arm 29 of a bail 30 mounted to rock on a rod 31 fixed to and forming part of the carriage frame. A spring 27 connected to the bail 3i) and to a fixed part of the carriage frame urges the bail 30 counterclockwise so as normally to hold the pawl 21 retracted and in the position shown in Figure 1, wherein its nose is disengaged from the ratchet wheel 9.

The rockable bail previously referred to constitutes a part of the interconnecting means E which is operable for transmitting line spacing driving effort from the cam mechanism D to the line spacing mechanism C irrespective of the position of the carriage part with relation to the frame part. The bail 30 is formed with a rear ledge 32 having a concave upper face. For rocking the bail 30 to effect forward movement of the pawl 21 and incremental rotation of the ratchet wheel 9, an adjustable link 33 is mounted to slide in a forked guide member 34 fixed to the main frame A, and is formed with a hooked upper end or nose 35 which extends into the concavity of the bail ledge 32, the arrangement being such that, when the link 33 is moved downwardly, its nose 35 will bear against the ledge 32 and rock the bail 30 clockwise. The lower end of the link 33 is pivoted at 36 to a cam follower 37 which normally is held upwardly and in the position shown in Figure l by a spring 38.

In operation, when the cam follower 37 is moved downwardly in a manner hereinafter described, the link 33 is depressed, causing its nose 35 to bear against the bail ledge 32 so as to rock the bail 30 clockwise against the urge of the spring 27. This rocking of the bail 30 operates through its arm 29 to thrust the pawl 21 forwardly, bringing its nose 25 into engagement with a tooth on the ratchet wheel 9 and turning the latter clockwise so as to effect line spacing movement of the platen. When the cam follower 37 is raised or returned to the position shown in Figure 1, the link 33 will be raised, permitting the spring 27 to rock the bail 30 counterclockwise, and thus to retract the line spacing actuator or pawl 21.

Cam mechanism constructed in accordance with the invention is characterized by the provision of means for normally maintaining a cam and a follower in such relative positions that the follower cannot be operated by the cam during continuous operation of the latter, and for selectively effecting a relative shifting movement between the cam and the follower for enabling the follower to be engaged by the cam and to be operated thereby for actuating the interconnecting mechanism E. The cam mechanism disclosed includes a rotatable cam generally designated 39 which is fast with a pulley 40 mounted to rotate on a shaft 41 carried by a stationary frame bracket 42. The pulley 40 and cam 39 are driven by an electric motor 43 through driving connections including a motor pulley 44, a belt 45 trained around the pulley 44 and a pulley 46 fast with a shaft 47 journaled by means including a fixed frame bearing 48, a pulley 49 fast on the shaft 47, and a belt 50 trained around the pulleys 49 and 40. When the typewriter or other machine is in use, the motor operates continuously, and the cam consequently is rotated continuously through the connections just described.

The cam follower 37 includes an arm 51 the rear end I of which is formed as a U-shaped part 52 which is mounted both to rock and to slide on a fixed shaft 53 which extends parallel to the camv axis of rotation. A normalizing spring 54 interposed between the follower arm 51 and a collar 55 fixed on the shaft 53 urges the cam follower 37 toward the left to the position shown in Figure l, in which a cam follower roller 37 on the arm 51 is displaced from the plane of the cam 39 so as not to be engageable by the cam. When the parts are so positioned, as illustrated in Figure l, the follower arm 51 is held up against a stop 56 by the spring 38,

the stop 56 so determining the upper or normal position of the follower roller 37 that the roller is closer to the cam axis than is the highest or most radially outward part of either of the two cam lobes 57, the follower roller 37 however, being further from the cam axis of rotation than the peripherally innermost parts of the cam between its lobes 57.

Manipulatable means is provided for selectively enabling and disabling the cam mechanism D. In the form shown, a key lever 58 is pivoted at 59 on a cross bar 60 forming part of the stationary frame A, and normally is held in a raised position as shown in Figure l by a spring 61. A link 62 is pivoted at 63 to the rear end of the key lever 58, and is pivoted at 64 to one arm 65 of a lever 65 mounted on a fixed pivot 66. The other arm 65* of the lever 65 is pivoted at 67 to one end of a link 68, the other end of which is pivoted at 69 to a lever '70 pivoted at 71 on the fixed frame A. The rear end of the lever is formed with a vertical ear 72 which is connected to the cam follower U-shaped part 52 by a yieldable motion transmitting spring 73, the arrangement being such that, when the lever 70 is rocked clockwise as viewed from above, the spring 73 will yieldably pull the cam follower toward the right against the urge of the normalizing spring 54 to position the roller 37 in the plane of the cam 39.

Operation With the parts in their normal positions, as shown in Figure 1, the motor 43 will be running and the cam 39 will be driven continuously. The cam follower 37 will be displaced toward the left under the urge of the normalizing spring 54, so that the follower roller 37 will be out of the plane of the cam so as not to be operable by the latter. Consequently, the link 33 will be held in its raised position by the spring 38, and the spring 27 will hold the elongated bail 30 in its Figure 1 position so to maintain the actuator 21 retracted with its nose 25 disengaged from the ratchet wheel 9. In order to effect any selected number of line spacing movements of the ratchet wheel 9, the key lever 58 is depressed and held down for an interval depending upon the number of line spacing movements desired to be performed. Depression of the key 58 operates the link 62, the lever 65, and the link 68 to rock the lever 70 clockwise as viewed from above, thereby pulling the spring 73 toward the right and tending to move the cam follower 37 in the same direction against the urge of the normalizing spring 54. If, during rightward movement of the follower 37, its roller 37 comes in contact with the side face of one of the cam lobes 57, the roller 37 and consequently the follower 37 will be temporarily blocked against further movement toward the right, and the motion transmitting spring 73 will yield to permit continued rocking of the lever 70 and depression of the key 58. When the aforesaid lobe 57 of the cam passes beyond the follower roller 37, the spring 73 will resume the movement of the follower 37 toward the right so as to move the follower roller 37 into the plane of the cam 39, outwardly beyond the cams peripherally innermost portion, so that the roller 37 will be engageable by the other cam lobe 57. Such engagement of the roller 37 by the lobe 57 will rock the follower 37 downwardly or counterclockwise to depress the link 33 and rock the bail 30 clockwise by the pressure exerted upon the bail ledge 32 by the link nose or hook end 35. The link 33 will be effective for rocking the bail 30 irrespective of the position of the carriage on the frame. The rocking of the bail 30 caused by depression of the link 33 will thrust the actuator 21 forwardly to bring its nose into engagement with the ratchet wheel 9 for rotating the latter and the connected line spacing or sheet feeding platen. When the cam lobe 57 passes beyond the follower roller 37, the spring 38 will be enabled to move the link 33 upwardly, thus permitting the spring 27 to rock the bail 30 counterclockwise and retract the pawl 21, completing a single line spacing cycle. As long as the key lever 58 -is held depressed, the cam lobes '57 will engage and depress the roller 37 and follower 37 successively to produce repeated downward movements of the link 33 interspersed with upward movements caused by the return spring 38, thereby reciprocating the link 33, rocking the bail 30, and operating the actuator 21 a number of times depending upon the time during which the key lever 58 is held depressed. Thus, by holding the key lever 58 depressed for an appropriate time, it is possible to eifect any desired number of repeated line spacing movements of the ratchet wheel element 9. When the key 58 is released, and is restored to its Figure 1 position by the spring 61, the normalizing spring 54 forces the cam follower 37 toward the left so as to move the follower roller 37 out of the plane of operation of the cam 39, thereby terminating the line spacing operation of the ratchet wheel 9.

The mechanism disclosed embodies the invention in a preferred form, but it is intended that the disclosure be illustrative rather than definitive. The invention is defined in the appended claims.

1 claim:

1. In a typewriting or like machine, a movable line spacing element; an actuator for operating said line spacing element; a power driven cam; connections between said cam and said actuator including a cam follower; means mounting said cam follower to enable it to be shifted from a normal position in which it is not engageable with said cam to an operating position in which it is engageable with said cam; and manipulatable means for shifting said cam follower into and holding it in its said operating position, whereby there will ensue repeated operation of said cam follower and said actuator and repeated movement of said line spacing element.

2. In a typewriting or like machine, a movable line spacing element; an actuator for operating said line spacing element; a rotatable power driven cam; connections between said cam and said actuator including a cam follower; a shaft mounting said cam follower to rock and to shift from a normal position in which it is not engageable with said cam to an operating position in which it is engageable with said cam; means normally yieldably retaining said cam follower in its said normal position; and manipulatable means for shifting said cam follower into and holding it in its said operating position, whereby there will ensue repeated operation of said cam follower and said actuator and repeated movement of said line spacing element.

3. In a typewriting or like machine, a movable line spacing element; an actuator for operating said line spacing element; a rotatable power driven cam; connections between said cam and said actuator including a cam follower; a shaft extending parallel to the axis of rotation of said cam and mounting said cam follower both to rock about the shaft axis and to shift axially of said shaft from a normal position in which said follower is displaced from the plane of rotation of said cam in a direction parallel to the cam axis of rotation to an operating position in which said cam follower is in the plane of rotation of said cam and is operable by said cam; and manipulatable means for shifting said cam follower into and holding it in its said operating position, whereby there will ensue repeated operation of said cam follower and said actuator and repeated movement of said line spacing element.

4. In a typewriting or like machine, a movable line spacing element; an actuator for operating said line spacing element; a rotatable power driven cam having a peripheral lobe; connections between said cam and said actuator including a cam follower; a shaft extending parallel to the axis of rotation of said cam and mounting said cam follower both to rock about the shaft axis and to shift axially of said shaft from a normal position in which said follower is displaced from the plane of rotation :of said cam in a direction parallel to the cam axis of rotation to an operating position in which .said :cam follower is in the plane of rotation of said cam and :is operable by said cam; a spring connected to said cam follower and operable thereupon when said cam follower is in its said :normal position for positioning said cam follower closer to the cam axis of rotation than is the highest or most radially outward part of said lobe; and :manipulatable means including a yieldable motion transmitting connection for shifting said =cam follower into and holding it in its said operating position, whereby there will ensue repeated operation of said cam follower and said actuator and repeated movement of said 'line spacing element, said motion transmitting connection being mementarily yieldable in the event said cam follower :in moving from its said normal position towards its said operating position engages and is stopped by the vface of said lobe.

5. A construction as set forth .in claim 4 including a normalizing spring urging said cam follower axially of said shaft to the normal position of said cam follower.

6. A construction as set forth in claim 4 including a stop for determining the positioning of said cam follower by said spring at a location in which said cam follower is further from the cam axis of rotation than is the low or peripherally innermost part of said cam.

7. In a typewriting or like machine, a stationary frame part; a carriage part mounted on said frame part for letter spacing and return travel; a movable line spacing element on said carriage part; a power driven cam mounted on said frame part; a cam follower adapted to be operated by said cam; means interconnecting said cam follower and said line spacing element for operating the latter in response to operation of said cam follower irrespective of the position of said carriage part with respect to said frame part; means mounting said cam follower on said frame part to enable it to be shifted from a normal position in which it is not engageable by said cam to an operating position in which it is engageable by said cam; and manipulatable means for shifting said cam follower into and holding it in its said operating position whereby there will ensue repeated operation of said cam follower and said interconnecting means, and repeated movement of said line spacing element.

8. In a typewriting or like machine, a stationary frame part; a carriage part mounted on said frame part for letter spacing and return travel; a movable line spacing element on said carriage part; a power driven cam mounted on said frame part; a cam follower adapted to be operated by said cam; means interconnecting said cam follower and said line spacing element for operating the latter in response to operation of said cam follower irrespective of the position of said carriage part with respect to said frame part, said interconnecting means comprising an actuator mounted to move on said carriage part for operating said line spacing element, an elongated member mounted on one of said parts and extending generally in the direction of carriage part travel, a second member mounted to move on the other of said parts and being operatively engageable with said elongated member irrespective of the position of said carriage part with respect to said frame part, and means for connecting said members respectively to said actuator and said cam follower; means mounting said cam follower on said frame part to enable it to be shifted from a normal position in which it is not engageable by said cam to an operating position in which it is engageable by said cam; and manipulatable means for shifting said cam follower into and holding it in its said operating position, whereby there will ensue repeated operation of said cam follower and said interconnecting means, and repeated movement-of said line spacing element.

9. In a typewriting or like machine, a stationary frame part; a carriage part mounted on said frame part for letter spacing and return travel; a movable line spacing element on said carriage part; a power driven cam mounted on said frame part; a cam follower adapted to be operated by said cam; means interconnecting said cam follower and said line spacing element for operating the latter in response to operation of said cam follower irrespective of the position of said carriage part with respect to said frame part, said interconnecting means comprising an actuator mounted to move on said carriage part for operating said line spacing element, an elongated member mounted on one of said parts and being formed with a ledge having a concave face extending generally in the direction of carriage part travel, a second member mounted to move on the other of said parts and being formed with a nose which extends into the concavity of said ledge face and is operatively engageable with said ledge irrespective of the position of said carriage part with respect to said frame part, and means for connecting said members respectively to said actuator and said cam follower; means mounting said cam follower on said frame part to enable it to be shifted from a normal position in which it is not engageable by said cam to an operating position in which it is engageable by said cam; and manipulatable means for shifting said cam follower into and holding it in its said operating position, whereby there will ensue repeated operation of said cam follower and said interconnecting means, and repeated movement of said line spacing element.

10. A construction as defined in claim 9 in which said elongated member is mounted on said carriage part and said second member is mounted on said frame part.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,283,596 Thieme Nov. 5, 1918 1,469,774 Crawley Oct. 9, 1923 1,944,673 Schumacher Jan. 23, 1934 2,082,098 Christian June 1, 1937 

